Machine for applying metal caps to bottlfs



y 2- cs. E. STRANDT 1,867,113

MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL CAPS TO BOTTLES 7 Filed May 6, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. M lfiw BY. 2' :7

ATTORNEYJ y 2, 1932- s. E. STRANDT w 1 MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL CAPS TO BOTTLES Filed May 6, '1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR. M f zmfl BY M w m A TTORNEYS July 12, 1932.

G. E. STRANl jT 1,867,113

MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL CAPSfTO BOTTLES Filed May 6, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

BY $1M, M 1 4 ATTORNEYS July 12, 1932. -r 1,867,113

' MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL CAPS TO BOTTLE Filed May 6, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 N o 256 I o 2f 253g Z57 i fir-Q1 tLm/wwai K M; ii! fl 25/ L335 9 INVENTOR. M 6.1mm

MV'W

ATTORNEYS July 12, 193 G. E. STRANDT MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL CAPS TO BOTTLES Filed May 6. 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 R m m w.

BY 4, m away A TTORNEYS July 12, 1932. -r 1,867,113

MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL CAPS TO BOTTLES Filed May 6, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR.

m f fiz'dmu A TTORNEYS July 12, 1932. e. E. STRANDT MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL CAPS TO BOTTLES Filed May 6, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Fay/5 m INVENTOR. fidw (#4110 BY M mam 9/44 A TTORNEYS G. E. STRANDT MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL CAPS TO BOTTLES July 12, 1932.

Filed May 6, 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 AT TORNE Y S July 12, 1932- G. E. STRANDT MACHINE FOR APPLYING METAL CAPS T0 BOTTLES Filed May 6; 1929 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented July 12, 1932 UNITED STATES- 'RA'TENT OFFICE" eusrav n. STRANDED, or MILWAUKEE, Wisconsin, assreivon 'ro enemy-roman coarona'rrou, or; mnwaunnn, wrscousm, A coarom'rron or nrmwman mourns roa .ArrLYme unrest-cars norms I prneaaon and m 6,

This invention relates to improvementsin bottle capping machines with particular reference to machines for applying metal caps over bottle mouthpieces containing previous- 51y inserted-caps or corks. 7 The primary object ofthe invention is to provide efiicient means for expeditiously ap-. plying metal caps to the mouthpieces of milk t bottles and similar receptacles which have al-' 16 ready received an ordinaryinset paper disc cap-or cork whereby the metal caps may beutilized to prevent foreignmatter, such as dust and other bacteria infected material,

WQfIOI D. lodgi g upon the surface of the mouthpiece or upon the cork or paper cap.

A more specific object is to provide means whereby bottles with inset closures may be mechanically conveyed in a continuous order of succession and in association with suitable disc-feeding, cap-forming, transferring and spinning or cap-applying mechanisms, all of which are operative in synchronism along the line-of bottle travel and so organized as to allow the various functions to be performed simultaneously as far as possible, in order that thetime required for capping each bottle will be but slightly greater than the time reing the feeding of metal discs from a mega-1 zine, whereby the disc for capping the bottle will be delivered from the magazine while thebottle is being delivered to the capping machine; to provide transferring mechanism adapted to receive a metal disc from the magazine, convey it to a cap-forming press and then convey the upset cap into a position for registry with the mouth-of-the hottle underneath a spinninghead into which the cap may be forced by an axial movementof the bottle after delivery of the cap to the bottle and removal of the transferring device, the latter being released by a withdrawal of the bottle after the spinning operation has been completed.

Further objects are to provide means whereby a series of bottle-capping operations accompllshment of ing wheeh the section Figure'9 is.

1929. swim.- s eaces. 1

in successive stages of completion maybe simultaneously p 'rformed and the time interval required for each stage regulated in cor respondence with the time required forfeeding bottles successively to the machine; to provide means wherebythe various operations may be performed in association with a continuously traveling bottle carrier, preferably 7 of the tum-table type; to provide adequate turret controls; and to provide improved suction feeders, transfer carriers presses and spinning heads, all eculiarly a I apted for the e more general purposes, a

above set forth.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a plan bodyingthe invention herein described.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the infeeding table and associated parts, includin one of the bottle supports and a fragment 0 the turret.

view of the infeeding and outfeeding side portion of a machine em- Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the.

turret, drawn generally to line 3+3 of Fig-.

ure 4.

Figures 4, 5 and Gare horizontal sectional views, drawn respectively to lines 4-4, 5-6

and 6-6 of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a detail sectionalview of a pertion of the infeeding table showing the suction chambers and suction controlling'infeed- 7-7 of Figure 1.

drawnto lined i a Figure 8 is a central vertical sectionalview I of one of the, spinning mechanisms showin the parts in normal position, with do lines indicating the ejector position of-p'late 145..

a similar view showing the parts as they appear immediately after pleting a cap spinning operation. 1 Figure 10 is an enlarged vertical sectional com- "view of one ofthe cap magazines and'asiociated parts. i Figure 11 is a detailplan vlewof ratchet feed mechanism with its. actuating shaft 88 and disc lifting screw, shown in cross section.

Figure 12 is a detail plan view of the trans- I fer arm above an associated cap magabe applied.

zine, the carrying portion of the arm being partially broken away to show the top of the magazine, and the operating shaft being shown in cross section.

Figures 13 and 14 are timing diagrams.

Figure 15 is a detail View of the means for rotating shaft 88' and regulating its rotation, said shaft, one of the actuating pins, and a portion of the frame being shown in horizontal section.

Figure 16 is a horizontal section of the spinning mechanism, drawn to line 16-16 of Figure 9..

Figure 17 is a developed view of the cam track 31 and the means for adjusting it to .suit the requirements for bottles of differing SlZeS.

Figure 18 is a detail sectional view of the overarm' and cams, drawn to line 1818 of Fi ure 1.

igure 19 is a sectional view, drawn to line 19-'19 of Figure 17 Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

Before describing the structural features of the machine in detail, a general statement of the functions to be performed will be desirable.

Bottles previously filled and provided with cap discs or corks, will be fed in spaced relation to each other to suitable supports carried by a rotary turret, six such bottle supports being illustrated in the construction shown. In association with each bottle sup- 1 port, the turret is provided with a cap disc magazine, a suction feeder for removing cap discs from the magazine successively, a ratchet feed mechanism for lifting the pile of discs in the magazine to keep the top of the pile at a constant level, a drawing press for upsetting the cap discs to form caps of inverted cup shape, a spinning head for spinning the caps over the mouthpieces of the bottles, and transfer mechanism for receiving the cap discs from the suction feeder, trans Each bottle, in one stage of its approach,

automatically controls the operation of a ,suction feeder associated with the support that is to receive it, and while the bottle continues its approach, a cap disc is lifted by the feeder, transferred to the press to be cupped and then transferred to a osition for capping the bottle. U on reaching the turret, each bottle is lif b its support to carry its mouthpiece into t e open cap or cup-shaped blank. The bottle and cap are then depressed to release the transferring device, the latter 66' being moved to a neutral position, and the bottle is then again lifted to carry its capped mouthpiece into the spinning head for a spinning operation.

After the spinning operation has been completed, the bottle is automatically lowered, after which it is discharged from the machine. In the meantime the transferring device will be returned to a position for receiving another cap disc for a bottle then approaching the machine.

By providing the turret with six bottle supports, and associated feeding, cap-forming and spinning and transferring mechanisms, it is possible to infeed and outfeed bottles at intervals of about one-third of the time required for a-single cap-spinning operation, inasmuch as a plurality of spinning operations may be simultaneously in progress in different stages along the circular path in which they are carried by the turret.

In the following detailed description, the turret and its relation to the bottle supports, cap-forming presses, disc feeders, transferring mechanisms and spinning heads will be described in the order here stated, and then the co-ordination and synchronistic operation of these groups of mechanisms with each other and with the infeeding mechanism will be explained.

Bottle supporting and lifting devices.- The rotary turret 19 is disposed for rotation about a vertical axis and it has a table 20 which is provided at uniformly spaced intervals with guide sleeves 21 through which vertically movable tubular slides 22 extend. The upper ends of these slides are provided with bottle-supporting plates 23; The lower ends of the slides 22 are provided with actuating links 24, each of which has anoutwa-rdly extending stud to which one end of a lever 26 is pivoted. (Figures 3 and 6).

Each lever 26 has a hub portion 27 which is pivoted to a stud 28 on the turret 19. An

intermediate portion of each lever extends outwardly and carries a trunnion 29 uponwhich a roller 30 is mounted in a position to travel along a camway 31 connected with the frame. The camway is formed to lift and lower each roller-at the proper times, thereby actuating the associated lever 2.6 and transmitting motion to lift slide 22 and its bottle supporting plate 23, as hereinafter more fully explained. These slides 22 descend by gravity when the cam permits. I

Cap forming presses.Adjacent each bottle supporting plate 23 there is a tubular guide 35 for a press plunger 36 (Figures 3 and 6), the upper end of which carries the press die 37, operative through an aperture in an upper .table 38 in line with the axis of the matrix 39 of the press.

As shown in Figure 3, the matrix has a reduced shank or upper end portion which is seated in a slide 40 against a compression spring 41 which abuts the upper end of the slide. The latter is mounted for vertical movement in a supporting guide sleeve 42, carried by a bracket 43 connected with a collar 44 integral with the central turret post member 45. 1

A disc clamping or ejector head 46 is supported from the top of the matrix member 39 by a hanger 47, the effective length of which is adjustable by means of a nut 48, and a compression spring 49 is interposed between the ejector head and the top of the matrix member 39, whereby the ejector head may be pushed upwardly into the matrix against the pressure of this spring 49 when the cap is being'formed. The pressure of the spring may also be utilized to eject the cap after the drawing operation has been completed. The matrix is connected with the slide by a screw 50 which extends through a slot 51 in the guide (Figure 3). I

When a cap disc is to be presented to the press, it is conveyed thereto by a transfer arm 52 which has an annular cap disc supporting shoulder 53 (Figures 10 and 12). \Vhen a cap is to be formed, the die-head 37 will be lifted by means of its supporting plunger 36 to engage and lift the disc from the transfer arm, and during this movement the slide 40 will be moved downwardly so that the matrix and its clamping ejector head 46 may engage the upper side of the disc substantially simultaneously with the engagement of the die-head 37 with its lower side.' These movements are derived from the ca trackway as follows.

A bracket 61 carries a roller 62 which travels along the cam trackway, the bracket being connected with the lower end of the plunger 36, whereby, when the roller 62 registers with an upward incline in its track-way durin turret rotation, plunger 36 will be lifted to carry die-head 37 through the opening in the transfer arm to engage the disc. Simultaneously, motion will be transmitted through the link rod 66, lever 67 and link 68 to depress the slide 40 (Figures 3 and 4).

Further upward movement of roller 62 in its travel along the cam track 60, will then compress the spring 49 until the shoulders on the matrix engage the lower end of the slide 40. The'matrix 39 will then resume its downward movement while the upward movement of the die-head 37 continues, and the disc will thereupon be forced into the matrix,

' pushing the clamping ejector head 46' upwardly against the pressure of its spring 49, and forming an inverted cup-shaped cap member.

At this stage, the roller 62 will reach a downwardly inclined portion of the cam track 60 (Figure 14), whereupon the die-head37 will be withdrawn from the matrix, and the cap will be simultaneously ej ected and pressed downwardly by the clamping ejector head 46 to deposit it upon a set of springs 70 pref- Figure 3 position.

erably comprising sections of a radially slitted rubber annulus projecting inwardly from the sides of the opening in the transfer arm 52. The cap will also be simultaneously stripped from the die-head by a knockout 'plate 71, supported by a rod 72 from the upper side of the cam track, the lower end of which it is illustrated in Figure '3.- The knockout plate 71 also reaches that position a little later when its supporting roller 73 reaches a portion of the upper surface of the cam track which permits itto descend to the T lie cap disc feeders.-The caps are fed to the drawing press from a magazine 80 havmg a vertically movable bottom or circular disc lifting plate 81, which is actuated by the ratchet mechanism shown in Figure 10 and hereinafter explained. The function of this ratchet mechanism is to raise the lifter plate 8i during each revolution of the turret 19, a distance equal to the thickness of one of the cap discs-81a contained in the magazine (Figures 3, 10 and 11) A suction pipe 82 is secured to the turret 19 and extends upwardly through the tables 20 and 38. At its upper end it has an inverted flexible U-shaped section or gooseneck 83, from which a telescoping pipe section 84 depends, with a suction head 85 at its lower end: The position of the pipe section 84 and suction head 85 is determined by-an arm '86 which connects it to a vertically. disposed shaft 88, this shaft being actuated vertically by a roller 90, traveling along a cam track 91. The roller 90 is journaled on a stud connected with a sleeve 92, disposed on the shaft 88 between two collars 89, adjustably fixed to said shaft by set screws 93, whereby the field of vertical movement may be determined, although the length of the stroke is determined by the cam track 91. At certain intervals the shaft 88 may be rotated in quarter turn movements when forked wheels 87 at their lower endsengage striker pins 94 to adjust the transfer arms as hereinafter described. Similar'collars 89 are secured to shaft 88 above and below the hub of the arm 86 whereby the shaft 88 may be rotated with out actuating the arm. The arm 86 is secured to the suction pipe section 84 by a set screw 86 best shown in Figure'lO. This set screw 86 has an elongated head loosely engaged between-bracketed guide posts 86" connected with the frame as best shown in Figure 4, whereby these guide postsco-operate with the shaft 88 to prevent lateral displacement of I the arm 86 and the suction pipe when shaft 88 delivery of a cap blank.

The suction head is lowered into contact with the top disc in the magazine when roller 90 is depressed by the cam track or allowed. by the cam track to descend by gravity for that purpose. The suction is then applied in the manner now to be explained and the top disc will be held to the head while the roller 90traverses an u ward inclination of the cam track (Figure 14 adapted to lift the roller 90,

I shaft 88 and suction head 85, to remove the disc from the magazine.

-To apply the suction at the'proper time, the suction pipe 82 is connected with a rotary valve which pief'erably comprises an annular ported flange 95, integral with the section 19a of the turret. The flange or valve is provided with arcuate cavities 98 in its lower face, with each of which a lower pipe section. 99 of an associated. suction pipe 82 is in communication.

The turret carries one suction pipe 82 and an associated cap disc magazine 80 and drawing press for-each bottle support on the turret and there are therefore six arcuate valve cavities 98 in the rotary valve 95 (Figure 6). Once during each revolution 'of theturret, each valve cavity 98 will register with an opening 100 (Figure 5) in the base plate 101 upon which the valve 95 rests. This opening communicates with a cavity 103 (Figure 3) to which a pipe 104 leads from a vacuum chamber or air exhauster conventionally indicated at 102 (Figures 1 and 2). The suc-,

tion is broken and the cap disc deposited on the transfer arm when the valve cavity 98 reaches a port 111 in the valve seat, communi- P the drawing press to bottle capping position.-

The transfer arms each have hubs 130 (Fi'g-' ure 10) splined to one of the-six vertical shafts 88, the axis of which is equidistant eating with atmosphere.

T bottle infeedz'ng wheel and its control of the auction line.-To prevent a cap disc from being lifted when a bottle intended to receive it is not being fed into the machine, the pipe 104 is'extended underneath the table 105 and infeeding wheel 106 (Figures 2, 5 and 7).

The pipe 104 is connected through the table 105 with a chamber 107 thereon, over the upper surface of which the infeeding wheel 106 turns. This chamber 109, positioned for successive registration 'with the port 108 and each of these cavities has a port 110 extending through the upper surface of the wheel 106 and adapted to be closed by a slide valve 112, carried by the arm 113 of a suction controlling lever pivoted to has an arcuate port 108 in" its upper surface. The lower faceof the wheel 106 is provided with arcuate cavities I There are two. of these wheel. sockets 116, with associated levers and suction controlling valves 112. Springs 117, coiled aboutthe pivot pins 114,v urge the levers to valve opening position, each lever being actuated to swing its associated valve'over the port 110 when a bottle is pressed into the socket against the arm 115 of such lever. There.- fore, no vacuum can. be established in the suction line except during the period when one of the valves 112 is being held by a bottle in position to close the port 110;

The infeeding wheel from a feedway- 12.0 and deliver them. to a conveyor 121 which carries the bottles to the turret in spaced relation to each other and in. such timed relation to the movement of the turret that the bottles may be placed successively upon the bottle supporting plates 23 by the two-armed rotary infeeding. member 125 (Figure 1).

Bottle feeding conveyors, infeeding wheels andv devices for feeding the bottles to supports carried by a rotary turn table, are common in the art relating to bottlefilling' and cappin machines and except for the suction control ing feeders herein described, these parts may be assumed to be of ordinary construction, requiring no further illustration or description, except to point out that the bottles are pushed into the sockets by a resilient- .ly yielding guide 126, which insures sufiicient pressure to actuate the levers.

The transfer .mecIiam'sm.-As heretoforeexplained, six transfer arms 52 are em loyed to receive capdiscs after their removal from the associated magazines by their: respective suction feeders. Each transfer arm then conveys its disc to the adjacent. drawing ress, and then conveys the upset-cap from from the axes or axial lines. of the associat-- ed disc magazine, press, spinning head and a vertical line through. the center of the o n- 106- has two bottle- .receiving sockets 116 which receive bottles ing in the transfer arm when the latter is in neutral position, these lines beingj90 degrees apart and representing the four positions of the transfer arm. Each shaft 88 is journaled in tubular bosses 131, depending from the table 38, the transfer arms being supported I 2 by the upper'surface of the table.

Each transfer arm has an opening of sufficient size to allow the mouthpiece of a bottle and its cap to pass therethrough,ithere bein an annular shoulder to support the cap disc when the disc is dropped thereon by the suction head. It has also been explained that'after a cap disc has been upset into cupforin, it is deposited in this 0 ening 135 and is su ported by the annulus $0 each section .of w ich between the slits forms a spring 139 adapted to yield under light pressure. These springs are supported by clamping collars 136 secured within the transfer arm aperture by set screws 137; The thin rubber springs iyield'readily"under pressure particularly if split radially at intervals as indicated in Figure 15.

' As heretofore stated and as shownin Figare 4. ea eli shaft 88 is at the center of acircle whiclu includ es the vertical axial lines an associated cap magazine, draw- "i'n g ress," bottle support and the cap receivaperture of the transfer arm when in a neutral position; and these axial lines'are equidistant from each other. i. 'e., 90 apart. Therefore, by rotating" the *shaft 88, step by step in quarter turn movements, the transfer arm may be swung from the neutral position to a position above the cap magazine, then to a position between the punch and die of the drawing press to present the disc fora cap forming operation, and then to a position over the bottle support; to allow the cap to be fitted to the mouthpiece of the bottle, after which the next quarter turn of the transfer arm returns it to the neutral position;

'After the transfer arm has conveyed a cap disc to-the press and then conveyed theripSet cap or cup-like blank to a position over the bottle support, a bottle previously placed on such support will be elevated by an upwardly inclined portion (6, Fig. 14) of the camway 31 which lifts the lever 26 associated with that bottle support when the turret carries the lever and its roller 30 along that portion of the trackway. This lifting movement is sufficient to bring the bottle mouthpiece into the cap receiving opening in the transfer arm,

between the springs 70, which are supporting the cup-like cap. lhe cap may then be held to the mouthpiece while the bottle is being retracted, thus delivering the cap from the springs to the bottle, in the manner now to be more particularly described,

A presser plate 145 is normally supported from within the spinning head .TFigure 8) by a rod 148 and a coiled spring 149, the lower end of which is seated upon a supporting collar 150 with its upper end hearing against a collar 151 fixed to said rod 148.

This rod has an anti-friction "roller 155 at its upperend which is, at the proper time,

brought by turret rotation into contact with the downwardly curving surface of a stationary cam 152 connected with an overarm As the roller 155 travels along the downwardly inclined portion of'the underfsurface of the cam. the rod 148 and presser plate 145 are moved downwardly. immediately after the bottle has beenpresented in a position to receive the cap, and while the bottle is retracting, with the associated lever supporting roller 30 traversing the portion d of the cam track as shown in This occurs 1 Figure 14, the downward movement is suflicient to cause the plate 145 to push the cap partially through the opening in the transfer arm, the springs 70 being forced to retract until the cap is delivered to the bottle.-

Thereupon, the roller 1'55 reaches theupwardlycurving under surfaceof the cam 1'52,

which allows the spring 149 to retract the presser plate to its normal position, thus allowing the transfer arm to complete its cycle by being swung'to its neutral position.

' The roller 155 has-its shaft 156 journaled in a slide 157'guided by'brackets 158, and

one end of the shaft 156 preferablyextends into the path of a reverse cam (Figure 18) or inclined bracket am 159 to insuretheli'fting of rod 148 as soon'as cam 152 permits (see also-Figures 1, 3, 8 and 9)). 5-,-

To insure proper placement of the cap' on the-bottle mouthpiece by the operation last above described, the camway 31 vmay be so formed that the mouthpiece of the 'bottle will be lifted into the transfer arm opening while the cup-like cap is being applied by the presser plate 145. Thereafter, in order 'to allow the transfer arm to swing to its neutralposition, the prsser plate 145 will not only be retracted, but the bottleand its cap will also be retracted, this retraction of the bottle being permitted by the downward inclination d of the camway 31 reached by the roller at the proper time. The downward movement of the bottle'preferably cominences during the downward movement of the presser plate 145 and the latter forces the cap beyond the springs before'commencing its own retractive movement.

The presser plate rod 148 is preferably held against rotation by the slide 157 to which it is secured. This allows it to move vertically in the guide brackets 158, connected with the gear casing 154 at the top of the turret as best shown in Figure 3. The overarm 153 is secured to a post 163 at the side lifted and carried into the bell-shaped mouth of the spinner casing for the spinning operation now to be described.

The spinning deoiaes.Each spinning headf170 is supported by a rotary tubular shaft 171 from a pinion 172 within an arcuate extension of the gear casing 154, and the pinions for each of the six spinning heads are'all actuated from a central driving shaft 175, I

which extends upwardly through the center of the turret and is provided with a central driving gear 176, this gear being in mesh with the six pinions 172 in sun and planet arrangement. Each spinning head is provided with a s inner casing 17 7 which is suspended by a xed sleeve 178 from the gear casing 154 (Figures 8, 9and 16).

Each spinning head has depending pairs of ears 180 to which levers for supporting the spinning wheels 181 are pivoted at 182. The lower arms of these levers have shoulders 183, below which the intermediate portions184 of the arms are outwardly and downwardlyinclined and the lower portions 185 are downwardly and inwardly inclined, the latter being the portions to which the spinning wheels 181 are journaled. There are six of these wheels (Figure 16). Each alternate arm is preferably longer than the intermediate ones (Figure 9), the wheels travelling in parallel annular paths.

Each lever also has an upwardly extending arm 186, which passes through an open ended slot 187 in the head and has a soeketed upper end adapted to abut a non-metallic sto block 188, preferably formed'of fiber an adapted to serve as shock cushions and also to limit the inward movement of the spinning wheels. These sto s may also assist the pivot pins in h'ol ing the levers against lateral displacement. A resilient ring 190, preferably comprising a coiled spring, embraces the lower arms of the levers in the angles formed atthe upper ends of the portions 184 and tends to draw these arms inwardly, thus causing the s' inning wheels 181 to bear forcibly against a ottle cap when the capped mouthpiece of the bottle is pushed upwardly between these wheels by roller 30 as it traverses the portion f of the cam track 31.

Thereupon, the roller 30 will move along the portion g of cam track 31 (Figure 14) and the bottle will be slowly lifted fora spinning operation, the spinning head 170 being rotated by its pinion 17 2. The wheels 181 will thus spin the cap flange into conformity with the mouthpiece progressively until the bottle has been raised to a point where the wheels operate along the lower margin of the cap flange. This completes the spinning operation and the wheels 181 will then be swung outwardly to an inoperative position by means new to be described.

It will be observed in Figure 8 that the presser plate 145 is normally held against upward movement by an annular block or flange 192, connected with the lower end of a hanger sleeve 193. A spreader 194 for moving the spinning wheels to inoperative position is loosely mounted on the sleeve 193 and is supported from the hub 195 of the block 192 by anti-friction bearings 196, whereby the spreader 194 may freely rotate.

the-cam track 31 and the final upward movej ment of the bottle support and bottle, brings the spreader 194" into engagement with the shoulders 183 of the spinning wheel levers, thus pushing the lower arms of these levers outwardly in a progressive movement until the spreader has passed above the shoulders 183. In this position it will be temporarily held by the levers under the clamping pressure exerted by the spring 190.

Thereupon, the associated bottle lifting lever and its roller 30 will have reached a depression or downward incline h in the cam track 31 which allows the bottle support and bottle to descend by gravity to substantially the level at which the bottle entered the machine. This occurs as the bottle approaches the point of final delivery, the turret having then made nearly one complete turn.

The hanger sleeve 193 is held against rotation by a cross pin 198 which extends through the rod 148, with ends loosely engaged in slots 199 in the sleeve. The upper end of the sleeve supports the collar 150, which serves as an abutment for the lower end of the spring 149 as heretofore explained (Figures 8 and 9).

'The downward movement of the hanger sleeve is limited by a collar 200, internally secured to the tubular shaft 171. This collar 200 is in the path of the collar 150.

Between this collar 200 and another collar 201, carried by the hanger sleeve, a coiled compression spring 202 is interposed, this spring tending to urge the hanger sleeve downwardly and holding it in a normal position, with collar 150 engaging collar 200 except during spinning operations, at which time the upward pressure exerted by the bottle lifts the flange 192 and hanger sleeve against the pressure exerted by the spring 202. Owing to the fact that the collar 201 and hanger sleeve 193 do not rotate, whereas, the collar 200 rotates'with the tubular shaft 171, the upper end of the spring 202 is arranged to abut against a loose collar 205, with anti-friction bearings 206 interposed between it and the collar 200.

During the last mentioned downward movement of the bottle, the hanger sleeve presser plate reach their normal position.

Just before this position is reached, the collar 201 will strike the hub of the spreader 194 and push the spreader downwardly b elow the shoulders 183 of the spinning wheel levers, thereby allowing the spinning wheels to again move inwardly to their normal position in which they nearly bear upon the upwardly and inwardly inclined or beveled face 212 of the flange block 192. The parts then remain in this position until another bottle cap has been swung by -the transfer arm underneath the spinning head, and another bottle presented to receive the cap in the manner above described. The cycle of cap placing and spinning operations will then berepeated. v

In Figure 16, it will be observed that the spreader 194 comprises a central annulus having a series of radially projecting paired arms 203, the arms of each pair being parallel with each other in the form of a fork and having a roller 204 journaled between themin a position to bear against the associated spinning wheel lever 185.

The cams and other eo-ordz'natz'ng 00nt7'0Zs.-Tl1e cam track 31 controlling the vertical movement of the bottle supports 23, the cam track 60 controlling the movements of the press punchand die members, and the cam track 9l controlling the vertical movements of the suction heads are all supported from the bed or base, and are of a generally circular form with inclinations to higher and lower levels for the purpose of imparting the desired vertical movements to the rollers which travel along their trackways. These inclinations are illustrated by the developed trackway diagrams shown in Figure 14 and their operation and the sequence of their operations can best be explained by a review of the operation cycle also diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 13. Assuming that a bottle is being placed upon one of the bottle supports by the rotary infeeding member 125, shown in Figure 13, and assuming that a cap has been presented over the bottle support and bottle by the transfer arm 52, shown in the diagram, the bottle support will be carried horizontally for a short distance corresponding with the length of the horizontal portion a of the cam trackway 31 indicated in Figure 14. This portion a of the cam trackway 31 is the portion which is then being traversed by the roller 30 which controls the movements of the actuating lever 26 to lift and lower the bottle support.

When the roller 30 reaches the steep upward incline b on the trackway, (Figure 14) it will be rapidly lifted, its motion being transmitted through the lever 26' to lift the bottle until its mouthpiece enters the aperture in the transfer arm to receive the cap as heretofore explained. The bottle support is held in this position until the roller 30 reaches the downward incline d in the trackway, which allows the bottle to descend with the cap preparatory to a release of the transfer arm and its movement to the neutral position. Immediately after the roller 30 commences to traverse track portion (1 the over arm cam 152 actuates the presser plate 145 downwardly to push the cap from the transfer arm and before roller 30 reaches the point e the roller 155 will have passed earn 152 to allow a retraction of the presser plate 145, thus releasing the transfer arm for a return movement to neutral position.

During these stages of the travel of the roller 30 along the trackway, the bottle support and bottle will have moved from the starting point to the corresponding points a, b, a, (Z and e on the diagram shown in Figure 18, and the roller 30 will have reached the incline f on the cam track 31, the transfer arm having been swung out of the way to allow the capped bottle to be moved upwardly to the spinning head. This upward movement will be completed by the time the bottle support reaches the point indicated at G in Figure 13, and the spinning operation will then commence while the bottle is being slowly lifted by the upwardly inclined portion g of the cam track 31 indicated in Figure 14.

The spinning operation will continue from the time the bottle support passes the point 9 in the Figure 13 diagram during approximately a half turn of the turret, after which continued upward movement of the bottle while its support is advancing to the point H in the Figure 13 diagram, will lift the spreader 194 above the lever shoulders 1 83 and the spinningwheels will be swung outwardly by the spreader. The bottle will then be lowered while its associated roller 30 travels along the downwardly inclined portion it of the cam track 31 to bring the bottle with its completed cap to a proper level for delivery from the turn table. The bottle will be pushed from its support 23 when it is brought into contact with the outfeeding arm 216 which directs it into the passage 217 over the stationary table 105.

While the operations above described are being performed, the mechanisms associated in the same group with the bottle. support under consideration will be preparing a cap for the next bottle to be placed on that support, these cap preparing-operations being timed and performed in the sequence now to be described.

When the bottle support has traveled approximately 40 from its starting point-(Ac to B in Figure 13), the roller 90 which supports the associated shaft 88 from the cam track 91 will have reached the incline B in the cam track 91 (Figure 14), and during the next 20 of turret rotation it will travel down this incline B, thereby lowering the suction head 85 into the magazine 80. The roller will then travel approximately 15 along the bottom C of this depression in the cam track,

and during this time the suction will be applied as heretofore explained, and it will be maintained while the roller traverses the upward incline F of the cam track, thus lift ing the suction head and the top cap disc. from the magazine. The remaining portion of the cam track 91 is horizontal, and the. suction head will therefore be held in the raised position until its supporting roller 90 is again brought to the incline B.

While the roller 90 is traversing the portion B of the cam track 91. the forked wheel 87 at the lower end of shaft 88 engages one of the striker pins 94 indicated at D in Fig ure 13, and swings the transfer arm 52 to its neutral position as indicated at g in Figure 13. The center of the transfer arm aperture reaches this position shortly after its shaft 88 and associated roller 90 has reached the top of the upward incline-F in the cam track 91.

The margin of the forked wheel 87 is fiattened or cut away between the fork arms and between the striker pins 94, and the frame or base is provided with arcuate guards 7 8 (Figure 15) positioned to prevent over-rotation of the shafts 88 and wheels 87,and to also prevent them from shifting out of place when not engaged by the striker pins 94.

Immediately after the transfer arm has reached the neutral position in which it is indicated at g in Figure 13, the forked wheel 87 engages another striker pin indicated at G to rotate shaft 88 another quarter turn and carry the transfer arm underneath .the disc which has just been removed from the magazine. This movement will be completed while the center of the transfer arm aperture is approaching the point I indicated in the Figure 13 diagram, at which point, the suction will be broken to' allow the disc to drop from the suction head to the transfer arm as above explained. Thereupon the forked wheel 87 engages the striker pin indicated at J in Figure 13 and the shaft 88 and transfer arm are again rotated a quarter turn to carry the disc to the drawing press for a cap forming operation.

The remaining portion ofthe cam track 91 being horizontal, and there being no further striker pins 94 between the in indicated at J and the pin indicated at in Fig-.

ure 13, it is obvious that the transfer arm will remain in registry with the punch until its forked wheel 87 reaches the pin 94 at the point A, the shaft 88 being then actuated another quarter turn to carry the cap cup over the next bottle to be placed on the same support 23 while it'is passing the infeeding or zero point:

\Vhen the punch actuating roller 62 reaches the upwardly inclined portion K on the cam track 60 (Figure 14), the punch head 37 will be moved upwardly in a rapid traverse through the aperture in the transfer arm, to

rotation of the turret, and the drawing operltlOIl'Wlll proceed during its next 55xmove- V I nient. Thereupon the roller 73 will reach the horizontal portion N at the top of the cam track 60, thus holding the knockout plate 71 in its raised position while the roller'62 traverses the downwardly inclined portion M of the cam track (it) to retract the punch and matrix. During the initialportion of this retraction, the stripper 46 will be actuated by its spring to push the newly formed cap out of the matrix, the matrix being simulta- I neously lifted by the lever 67 actuated from,

roller 62 through the link.rod 66.

' The roller 73 will continue to travel horizontally until the cycle of turret rotation has been nearly completed, whereupon it will reach the cam track incline 0 which allows it to descend to its normal distance ofseparation from the roller 62. The parts will then remain in the normal position while the turret is completlng its cycle, the upset disc or cap cup being deposit-ed upon the transfer arm springs during the downward movement of the knockout plate 71. This cap cup is then ready to be swung by the transfer arm into a position for capping the bottle which controlled the suction at the time that particularcap disc was taken from the associated magazine.

different groups, but unlike operations may be simultaneously proceeding within each group so that the total'time required for capping a bottle will not be greater than that required for applying the cap and spinning it into conformity with the mouthpiece, plus the time required for'placing the bottle on the support and removing it from the machine.

Actuating 00nm0 ti0ns.Power to actuate the machine may be derived from a motor 220 which actuates a main turret driving shaft 221 through suitable sprocket chains and reduction gearing indicated in'Figure 2. The shaft 221 is connected with a short shaft section 222 journaled in the base of the turret and provided with a beveled pinion 223. in mesh with a similar pinion 224 secured to the Vertical shaft 1.75 which extends upwardly along the axis of the turret, and drives the It will be understood from the foregoing lar 201 will strike the hub of the spreader 194 and push the spreader downwardly below the shoulders 183 of the spinning wheel levers, thereby allowing the spinning wheels to again move inwardly to their normal position in which they nearly bear upon the upwardly and inwardly inclined or beveled face 212 of the'flange block 192. The parts then remain in this position until another bottle cap has been swung by the transfer arm underneath the spinning heagl, and another bottle presented to receive the cap in the manner above described. The cycle of cap placing and spinning operations will then be repeated.

In Figure 16, it will be observed that the spreader 194. comprises a central annulus having a series of radially projecting paired arms 203, the arms of each pair being parallel with each other in the form of a fork and having a roller 204 journaled between them:

in a position to bear against the associated spinning wheel lever 185.

The cams and other co-ordz'nating contr0Zs.-The cam track 31 controlling the vertical movement of the bottle supports 23, the cam track controlling the movements of the press punch and die members, and the cam track 91 controlling the vertical movements of the suction heads are all supported from the bed or base, and are of a generally circular form with inclinations to higher and lower levels for the purpose of imparting the desired vertical movements to the rollers which travel along their trackways. These inclinations are illustrated by the developed trackway diagrams shown in Figure 14 and their operation and the sequence of their operations can best be explained by a review of the operation cycle also diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 13. Assuming that a bottle is being placed upon one of the bottle supports by the rotary infeeding member 125, shown in Figure 13, and assuming that a cap has been presented over the bottle support and bottle by the transfer arm 52, shown in the diagram, the bottle support will be carried horizontally for a short distance corresponding with the length of the horizontal portion a of the cam trackway 31 indicated in Figure 14. This portion a of the cam trackway 31 is the portion which is then being traversed by the roller 30 which controls the movements of the actuating lever 26 to lift During these stages of the travel of the I roller 30 along the trackway, the bottle sup port and bottle will-have moved from the starting point to the corresponding points a, b, 0, (Z and e on the diagram shown in Figure 13, and the roller 30 will have reached the incline f on the cam track 31, the transfer arm having been swung out of the way to allow the capped bottle to be moved upwardly to the spinning head. This upward movement will be completed by the time the bottle support reaches the point indicated at in Figure 13, and the spinning operation will then commence while the bottle is being slowly lifted by the upwardly inclined portion 9 of the cam track 31 indicated in Figure 14.

The spinning operation will continue from the timethe bottle support passes the point 9 in the Figure 13 diagram during approximately a half turn of the turret, after which continued upward movement of the bottle while its support is advancing to the point H in the Figure 13 diagram, will lift the spreader 194 above the lever shoulders 183 and the spinning wheels will be swung outwardly by the spreader. The bottle will then be lowered while its associated roller 30 travels along the downwardly inclined portion it of the cam track 31 to bring the bottle with its completed cap to a proper level for delivery from the turn table. The bottle will be pushed from its support 23 when it is brought into contact with the outfeeding arm 216 which directs it into the passage 217 over the stationary table 105.

While the operations above described are being performed, the mechanisms associated in the same group with the'bottle support under consideration will be preparing a cap for the next bottle to be placed on that support, these cap preparing-operations being timed and performed in the sequence now to be described. I

Then the bottle support has traveled approximately 40 from its starting point-(A.

to B in Figure 13), the roller 90 which supports the associated shaft 88 from the cam track 91 will have reached the incline B in the cam track 91 (Figure 14), and during'the next 20 of turret rotation it will travel down this incline B, thereby lowering the suction head 85 into the magazine 80. The roller will then travel approximately 15 along the bottom C of this depression in the cam track,

and during this time the suction will be ap plied as heretofore explained, and it will be maintained while the roller traverses the upward incline F of the cam track, thus lifting the suction head and the top cap disc from the magazine. The remaining portion of the cam track 91 is horizontal, and thesuction head will therefore be held in the raised position until its supporting roller 90 is agaln brought to the incline B.

\Vhile the roller 90 is traversing the portion B of the cam track 91. the forked wheel 87 at the lower end of shaft 88 engages one of the striker pins 94 indicated at D in Fig ure l3, and swings the transfer arm 52 to its neutral position as indicated at g in Figure 13. The center of the transfer arm aperture reaches this position shortly after its shaft 88 and associated roller 90 has reached the top of the upward incline F in the cam track The margin of the forked wheel 87 is flattened or cut away between the fork arms and between the striker pins 94, and the frame or base is provided with arcuate guards 7 8 (Fig- 1 .ure 15) positioned to prevent over-rotation of the shafts 88 and wheels 87, and to also prevent them from shifting out of place when not engaged by the striker pins 94.

Immediately after the transfer arm has reached the neutral position in which it is indicated at g in Figure 13, the forked wheel 87 engages another striker pin indicated at G to rotate shaft 88 another quarter turn and carry the transfer arm underneath the disc.

which has just been removed from the magazine. This movement will be completed while the center of the transfer arm aperture is approaching the point I indicated in the Figure 13 diagram, at which point the suction will be broken to allow the disc to drop from the suction head to the transfer arm as above explained. Thereupon the forked wheel 87 engages the striker pin indicated at J in Figure 13 and the shaft 88 and transfer arm are again rotated a quarter turn to carry the disc to the drawing press for a cap forming operation.

The remaining portion ofthe cam track 91 being horizontal, and there being no further striker pins 94 between the in indicated at J and the pin indicated at in Figure 13, it is obvious that the transfer arm will remain in registry-with the'punch until its forked wheel 87 reaches the pin 94 at the point A, the shaft 88 being then actuatedanother quarter turn to carry the cap cup over the next bottle to be placed on the same support 23 while it'is passing the infeedi-ng or zero point.

When the punch actuating roller 62 reaches the upwardly inclined portion K on the cam track 60 (Figure 14),the punch head 37 will be moved upwardly in' a rapid traverse through the aperture in the transfer arm, to

by its spring to push. the newly formed out of the matrix, the matrix being simultaneouslyliftcd by the lever 67 actuated from rotation of the turret, and the drawing-operation will proceed during its next 55 move- 7 m'ent. Thereupon the roller 73 will reach the horizontalportion N at the top of the cam track 60, thus holding the knockout plate 71 in its raised position while the roller 62 traverses the downwardly inclined portion M of the cam track (it) to retract the punch and matrix; During the initial portion of this retraction, the stripper 46 will be actuated cap roller 62 through the link rod 66.

The roller 73 will continue to travclhorizontally until the cycle of turret rotation has been nearly completed, whereupon it will reach the cam track incline O whichallows it to descend to its normal-distance of separation from the roller 62. The parts will then remain-in the normal position while the turret is completing its cycle, the upset disc or cap cup being deposited upon the transfer arm springs during the downward movement of the knockout plate 71. This cap cup is then ready to be swung by the transfer arm into a position for capping the bottle which.

controlled the suction at the time that particular cap disc was taken from the associated magazine.

It will be understood from the foregoing description that in each group of mechanisms carried by the turret, cap placing and spin- .ning operations will proceed concurrently with cap disc feeding and shaping operations whereby like work may not only he simultaneously proceeding in different stages in the different groups, but unlike operations may be simultaneously proceeding within each group so that the total'time required for capping abottle will not be greater than that required for applying the capand spinning it into conformity with the mouthpiece, plus the time required for placing the bottle on the support and removing it from the machine.

Actuating comwc tions.Power to actuate the machine may be derived from a motor 220 which actuates a main turret driving shaft 221 through suitable sprocket chains and reduction gearing indicated in Figure 2. The

vertical shaft 175 which extends upwardly alongthe aXis of the turret, and drives the y 25 I actuated by a ratchet feed nut 241. The shaft overhead spur gear or sun gear 176 to actuate the spinning heads.

The vertical shaft 175 is provided with a turret actuating gear wheel 225 operating through the intermediate spur gears 226 and 227 to drive the ring gear 228,. attached to the lower portion of the turret as best shown in Figures 3 and 5. The base of the machine is provided with an annular bearing 230 over which a turret flange 231 extends. This turret flange is connected with the lower margin of the turret skirting.

The infeeder, including the infeeding wheels 106 and 125, is driven from the main driving shaft 221 through the beveled gears 235 and 236 and vertical shaft 237, the latter being secured directly to the infeeding wheel 125 and arranged to drive the infeeding wheel 106 through suitable gearing and chain connections indicated in Figure 2, but not deemed necessary to be described in detail.

In order to maintain the discs at a constant level, the magazine 80 is provided with a movable bottom or disc lifting plate 81 which i supported by a screw 240 supported and 88 is provided with a striker 242 which engages a lever 243 pivoted to the hub 244 of the feed nut 241, and provided with a pivoted dog or pawl 245 which is held by a spring 246 in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet feed nut 241, whereby this feed nut will be actuated step by step once during each revolution of the shaft 88. The pitch of the threads of the screw 240 and the movement of the lever 243 are calculated to produce an upward movement of the disc lifting plate 81, equal to the thickness of one of the discs, whenever the lever 243 is actuated by the striker 242.

A spring 247 is secured to the lever 243 and engages a stop post 248 on the frame arm 249. Thisspring retracts the lever as soon as it is released from the lug 242, and the post 248 serves as a stop to limit this retractive movement. a

In order that the same machine may be employed for capping bottles of differing sizes, it is merely necessary to elevate all those portions of the cam track 31 except the portion a over which each roller 30 passes without contact during the infeeding and outfeeding movements of a bottle carried by the associated support.'- This is accomplished by connecting the portion 5 to the portion 0' at its upper end by a hinge 250 and allowing its lower end to slide on the portion a, and similarly hinging the portion h to the portion g" at its upper end and allowing its lower end to slide upon the portion a in the vicinity of the outfeeding arm 216. The roller 30 will reach its lowermost position before the bottle reaches said outfeeding arm, but it does not descend to the track ortion a. It is prevented from doing so y the associated bottle rest 23 which engages the table 20 to limit the downward movement of the plunger 22 and of the roller 30. The track sections above referred to may be raised and lowered by means of a shifter ring 251 which has step blocks 252 which rest upon the base, the ring being rotatable thereon. The vertically movable portion of the cam track has posts 253 which rest upon the blocks 252 and the height of the cam track is therefore determined by the step of the block 252 upon which the posts rest. Brackets 255 on the base have studs 256 loosely engaged in vertical slots 257 in the web 258 of the cam track to pre- I vent the latter from shifting rotatively.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for applying metal caps to bottles, comprising the combination with an endless bottle carrier having groups of cap disc feeding, cap forming and spinning mechanisms, of an apertured transferring cap carrier provided, at the aperture margin, with supporting shoulders for cap discs, and yielding supports for caps formed from said discs, means associated with the bottle carrier for actuating the bottles transversely to their line of travel to carry their mouthpieces into such apertures, and reciprocatory means associated with each spinning mechanism for holding caps to the bottle mouthpieces and push- -ing them through the aperture in the trans- 2, Apparatus for applying metal caps to.

bottles, comprising the combination of a ro-. tary turret provided with spaced groups of cap forming and applying mechanisms arranged in each group with their axes at equal radial distances from a common axial line, a transferring carrier pivoted to the turret in said axial line, and having an apertured supf porting portion for blanks and caps, disposed with the center of said aperture also at said radial distance from the common axial line of the group, and means, operable'by the turret,

for actuating said mechanisms in a cycle of operations and also actuating the transferring carrier at stated intervals to convey the work from one mechanism to the next in the group. r

3. Apparatus for applying metal caps to bottles, comprising the combination with an endless bottle carrier, of groups of disc feeding, cap forming and cap spinning mechanisms mounted on the carrier, and arranged with the mechanisms of each group disposed in planes radial to a'common axis and equidistant from said axis, a transferring device for each group, pivotally supported by the carrier substantially at said common axis and 

